Lost Memory by Jacqueline Cortez

Chapter Thirty: Gwen

What is he doing? Why is he running to us? He needs to run the other way. He pushes me and Alejandro away from in front of the car. He stands in our place. I hold Alejandro's head down so he doesn't see what is going to happen. In an instant, the car runs over him. Grandpa, why?

          "What happened?" Alejandro asks but instead, I run to Grandpa's side.

          "Grandpa," I begin crying, "Why did you do that?" He places a hand on my face. I place a hand over his. I hear footsteps behind me. I see who it is.

          "Grandpa..." Alejandro falls on his knees. He crawls to him. Grandpa's hand moves from my face to his. Tears fall down his face.

          "I'm sorry..." Grandpa manages to say. He looks at something. It's a letter on the floor. I grab it and place it in my pocket. Instead of Alejandro's note, the timeline has changed to where Grandpa has a note"I-I love you both..." He starts to hyperventilate. His eyes are almost closed.

          "No don't die, Grandpa," Alejandro yells. Grandpa's eyes close "Do something, Gwen," He yells at me. He gets on him and starts CPR. "Wake up!" Alejandro cries painfully. He keeps doing the CPR for five straight minutes. He needs to give up. He's gone. I stand up. I place one of my hands on his shoulder.

          "Alejandro...you need to stop," I say calmly but he keeps pressing up and down on his chest. "Alejandro," I say again. "Alejandro!" I scream to get his attention. He looks at me with those eyes full of agony and helplessness. Then he stops. He gets off Grandpa and he sits on his legs. I bend down just like he did at the Cherry Esplanade when I told him about Bo-A. I pull him into a hug. He sobs onto my shoulder as my heavy eyes give out. I can feel the water on my shoulder.

I realized I should stop running away from Alejandro.

I realized that I need him more than he needs me.

          The paramedics tell us to leave the area immediately. Alejandro and I take a taxi to Grandpa's new house or at least it was his new house. When we enter, Aunt Areum is sitting on the couch with used tissues all around her. She stands up and stares at us. I'm sure she notices our red eyes.

          "Where is Grandpa Alejandro? Tell me where he is!"

          "He-" I choke back my tears.

          "...passed away..." Alejandro finishes my sentence. I wrap my arm around his. Suddenly, I remember the letter that Grandpa. I pull it out of my pocket and open it. Aunt Areum moves next to me to see what I was looking at. Alejandro walks behind me "What's that?"

          "A letter from Grandpa," My tear falls on the letter.

Dear Gwen:

                        This note wasn't a note meant just for you but I have things to say to you first. I know you must be confused why I threw myself in front of you two. During the time of your recovery, I not only have been making a cure for you but I have been time traveling to find a solution. To save you and Alejandro. I didn't want you two to die. If anyone deserves to live, it's you two. The only way was for me to be in front of the car. So yes I did change the future. However, Not only did I fix this but there is something at the end of the tunnel. When you get to the house look for 'the book.'

Alejandro, are you reading, I know you are. Gwen too. You two stubborn love birds. The only way for you two to be happy is to be with each other. You both need one another no matter what situation. I don't know why events turned out this way but in every timeline, I traveled to you two were together. Please cherish each other, don't give each other problems anymore. Okay?